2020 has been a turbulent year for tourism as it has been for so many industries and individuals.Tourism is a significant economic engine for our community, driving half a billion dollars in visitor spending and supporting more than 5,600 jobs.Tourism helps small businesses not only survive but thrive and helps...
Making it through a worldwide pandemic has been both a challenge and an opportunity for the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce – requiring a great deal of “out of the box thinking.”Covid-19 offered little choice for chambers and associations but to retool the programs, products, events and services we offer,...
Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, Port of Kennewick spent 2020 engaging in transparent urban planning; working to revitalize Kennewick’s historic waterfront district; and constructing a regional town center in place of the former Vista Field airport.At Vista Field the port is following a community-driven master plan to create a pedestrian-focused development...
The Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (TCHCC) began, like I’m sure many other organizations, with great hopes and plans for 2020.We had a new board that was a good mix of seasoned and new directors. I also was optimistic as I took over the president’s position since our finances were...
When we look back 20 years from now at the year 2020, I hope we will see this was a launching point for major achievements for our region and nation.I believe there will be a change in how we continue to live our lives, and history points to shifts in...
2020 started as a year of transition, followed by a global pandemic and an unprecedented new way of doing business.Your Port of Benton team stepped up, setting the bar high by delivering a new website and accelerating digital communications, key capital projects and organizational improvements.These achievements demonstrate the team’s flexibility...
As we close out a tumultuous year where the pandemic has stolen so much of our attention, it might help to step back from the daily challenges and appreciate a fundamental demographic of life here: the greater Tri-Cities continue to grow.Demographics may not drive destiny, but they certainly influence it.Unlike...
Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) is beta testing a new satellite-provided broadband internet service through its Starlink brand.At times, reports have come out that SpaceX planned to spin off Starlink. Other reports quoted the SpaceX founder Elon Musk saying he had no plan to spin off Starlink.The bandied spinoff idea...
By Mike McLeanSpokane Journal of BusinessThe Kalispel Tribe plans to expand its Northern Quest Resort & Casino in Airway Heights with a new hotel building, adding 190 more rooms.The tribe expects to break ground on the new project in March and complete it in early 2023. The resort and casino...
Year-end is the perfect time to do tax planning. And what a tax year 2020 has been! Let’s review the urgent items that can still be taken advantage of before the New Year’s ball drops.Covid-19-related distributions, loansThe CARES Act, passed in March 2020, changed the rules for certain distributions and...
